More about: 5 Best Day Trips to Zaanse Schans and its Windmills from Amsterdam
Amsterdam is an exciting city, with a unique aesthetic and where there are many interesting places to see.
But why not take advantage of this trip to Holland to see other places within the country? Don't hesitate and embark on an excursion to Zaanse Schans and the beautiful Dutch countryside.
1. Excursion to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken from Amsterdam
If you want to escape for a few hours from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in the rural life of the Netherlands, this tour to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam is just what you need. In just 5 hours you will visit four of the most picturesque and traditional villages in the north of the country, accompanied by an expert guide who will take you back to the 17th century.
What does this tour consist of?
Departing from the center of Amsterdam, you will start your adventure in Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum with working windmills, typical houses and craft workshops. Afterwards, you will head to Volendam, a fishing village with sea views and charming streets. There you will visit a cheese farm, where you will learn how Dutch cheeses are made and have a tasting session.
The route continues to Marken, an island village connected to the mainland, known for its wooden houses and seafaring traditions. You will also have the opportunity to visit a clog workshop, where you will see how these iconic wooden shoes are made, and you can even try on a pair.
What will you see?
- Windmills in Zaanse Schans
- Fishermen's houses in Volendam
- Cheese tasting at a traditional farm
- Clog workshop in Marken
- Traditional shipyard and historical canals
2. Zaanse Schans tour with optional canal cruise
If you want a typical Dutch experience without getting too far from the city, this excursion to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam is perfect for you. In half a day, you will immerse yourself in the history, gastronomy and handicrafts of the Netherlands, accompanied by an expert guide who will make the tour enjoyable and enlightening.
What does this tour consist of?
The experience begins with a guided tour of Zaanse Schans, a village-museum known for its traditional windmills. As you stroll among them, you will learn about their operation and their historical importance in the production of food and energy.
Next, you will stop at a cheese farm, where you can sample a variety of Dutch cheeses and learn how they are made, from fresh milk to the finished product. To close, you will visit an authentic clog factory, where you will see firsthand how the artisans carve these iconic wooden shoes.
As an extra, you can add a cruise along Amsterdam's canals at the end of the tour to complete the day with panoramic views of the city from the water.
What will you see?
- Windmills at Zaanse Schans
- Cheese farm with cheese tasting included
- Traditional clog factory
- Optional: cruise on Amsterdam canals
3. Tour to Edam, Zaanse Schans, Marken and Volendam from Amsterdam
If you're looking for a full-day getaway that shows you the most representative of the Dutch countryside, this tour from Amsterdam to Edam, Zaanse Schans, Marken and Volendam is one of the most comprehensive you can take. In addition to the iconic windmills and fishing villages, it includes a visit to Edam, the famous place of origin of the cheese of the same name, which does not usually appear on other similar tours.
What does this tour consist of?
Accompanied by a professional guide, you will depart by bus from Amsterdam and travel through the most emblematic landscapes of the north of the Netherlands: centuries-old windmills in Zaanse Schans, traditional wooden houses, farms, canals and harbors. In Edam, you will learn about the history of its famous cheese and participate in a cheese tasting, including other varieties such as Gouda.
In Volendam, you will visit a clog workshop where a master craftsman will show you how this typical shoe is made. Finally, you will pass through Marken, a village with colorful houses, farms and canals that look like something out of a fairy tale.
What will you see?
- Windmills in Zaanse Schans
- Cheese tasting in Edam
- Houses and fishing port in Volendam
- Traditional clog workshop
- Canals and rural landscapes in Marken
4. Excursion to Giethoorn and Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam
If you have already seen the essentials of Amsterdam and feel like discovering a more natural and peaceful side of the Netherlands, this tour to Giethoorn and Zaanse Schans is a perfect choice. Unlike other more well-known tours, it includes a visit to Giethoorn, a charming village nicknamed the "Dutch Venice" for its canals and thatched roof houses.
What does this tour consist of?
The first stop will be Zaanse Schans, the famous open-air museum where you will learn about the history of windmills, see typical houses and learn about traditional crafts such as clog making and Dutch cheese production. A tour that takes you back to the Netherlands in the 18th century.
Afterwards, you will head for Giethoorn, one of the most photogenic villages in the country. Here you will have the opportunity to take a boat ride on its canals, enjoy its fairytale scenery and stroll through its narrow streets at your leisure. All this accompanied by an expert guide and with transportation included from Amsterdam.
What will you see?
- Windmills and workshops in Zaanse Schans
- Clog and cheese making
- Boat trip on the canals of Giethoorn
- Traditional houses and rural landscapes
- Free time to explore Giethoorn at your own pace
5. Electric bike tour to Zaanse Schans and Zaandam from Amsterdam
If you feel like getting out of the city in an active way but without exhausting yourself, this electric bike tour from Amsterdam offers the perfect combination of nature, history and fun. Unlike other tours, this tour also includes a visit to Zaandam, a picturesque village on the banks of the river Zaan with a very characteristic architectural style.
What does this tour consist of?
For about 4 hours, you will ride an electric bike through the Dutch countryside with a professional guide in a small group, allowing for a more relaxed and close experience. The first stop will be in Zaanse Schans, where you can explore the famous windmills, symbol of the country, and learn about their historical relevance in industry and agriculture.
Then you will continue to Zaandam, known for its green wooden houses, quiet streets and cozy atmosphere. There you will have free time to stroll around, visit local stores or sit on a terrace overlooking the river.
What will you see?
- Scenic electric bike tour through the Dutch countryside
- Windmills in Zaanse Schans
- Traditional architecture in Zaandam
- Free time in the village
- Wooden houses, colorful facades and local stores
How are organized tours to Zaanse Schans
Windmills, cheese dairies, clog workshops, tea houses, lakes, beautiful flowery landscapes... If you want to discover the treasures of rural Holland, the best option is to take a day trip to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken by bus. The first stop on this tour is Zaanse Schans, a village on the banks of the Zaan River famous for its windmills.
If you want to discover what life was like in Holland in the 17th and 18th centuries, a stroll through this little village in the Dutch countryside is a good way to do so. Get your camera ready because its bucolic landscape seems to be inspired by a fairy tale and you will want to take pictures non-stop.
The windmills by the river are the main attraction of Zaanse Schans. The guide explained to us that this region became the first industrial region in the country in the 17th century with more than 600 windmills that were built to produce oils, dyes, paint, wooden planks and to grind spices.
Tips for visiting the Zaanse Schans on a day trip
What do you need to bring?
- Comfortable clothes and shoes.
- An umbrella or raincoat is always a good idea in the Netherlands because the weather is variable and it can rain at a moment's notice.
- A bottle of water and some snacks
- A desire to have a good time.
Are you traveling with luggage?
Don't worry, during the tour you can leave it on the bus. When you return to Amsterdam the driver parks right next to Central Station so you can take the train to the airport or to your next destination.
When is the best time to take a tour to Zaanse Schans?
May to October is the best time to travel to Amsterdam or any other part of the country.
- Spring is a special time because the fields begin to bloom and nature is at its best.
- On the other hand, summers are mild, days are longer and as temperatures hover around 26ºC, sightseeing at this time is a pleasure.
- In autumn, on the other hand, the days start to be shorter and it is necessary to put on some warm clothes because the weather starts to cool down.
- As for the winters, due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, they are cold with frequent rains, fog, frost and strong winds. In other words, the weather is not as favorable as at other times of the year to go hiking, although for some people it can also have its charm.
What Edam, the town of the popular Dutch cheese, is like
The next stop on this tour through the Dutch countryside is Edam, and when talking about this little town one cannot help but think of its cheese. In the 17th century, Holland was already exporting this famous product and since then it has been going to all corners of the world for centuries.
This outing gives us the opportunity to visit its famous traditional cheese market, which has been in operation since the Middle Ages and in summer they carry out historical recreations so that tourists can see what it was like in those days. Visiting the Edam cheese market with a guide is a very interesting experience that keeps a part of the city's history alive.
But Edam is more than just rich cheese. It is a beautiful town located 20 kilometers from Amsterdam in an area called Laag Holland that looks like something out of a fairy tale.
Strolling through the old town of this typical village on the shores of Lake IJsselmeer you will find small shopping streets, cute little tea houses along the canal and cozy terraces where you can have a drink. Some of its main monuments are the church of St. Nicholas, the Town Hall, the Carillon of the sixteenth century or the Edam Museum.
What is Volendam, the port of Edam like?
Located between Edam and Marken, this little fishing village just 20 minutes from Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful and authentic of the Dutch countryside thanks to its beautiful harbor, narrow streets and colorful houses.
Therefore, the best way to discover Volendam is on foot. The guide will lead you through amazing places so that you can take beautiful pictures of the tour while she explains the history of Volendam and its connection to the sea.
During the tour you will see places like the Doolhof and the Dijk, two old quarters full of fishermen's houses in a maze of narrow, highly decorated streets and canals, which have fascinated many artists for centuries.
You will also see places like the dike of the fishing port, its beautiful churches, its stores... and you will discover the origins of this town as the port of Edam.
But before the route through the town we visited a traditional cheese factory where they explained how they make typical cheeses of the region such as Gouda or Edam and at the end we were treated to a free tasting of traditional products that were delicious. It was one of the most enjoyable moments of the day because I love this kind of excursions.
Then we were taken to a traditional workshop of clogs or "klompen" as they are called in Dutch. Like tulips or windmills, these wooden shoes are another national icon of the Netherlands. During the visit the master clog maker will show you how they are made and some of his most striking creations. I've never seen anything like it before and it's quite a laborious and curious handicraft process, to be honest. Worth seeing!
What is Marken, the idyllic island, like?
Across the IJsselmeer lake, just in front of Volendam, is Marken, an island that was separated from mainland Holland in the thirteenth century because of a storm.
One of the things that caught our attention in this town are its wooden houses on mounds of earth and artificial called "terpen". They are unique in the world! The guide explained that they were built this way to avoid the damage caused by rain and floods, which are very frequent in this area.
It is amazing to see the great ingenuity that those people had to live with the tides despite the fact that the water was gradually gaining ground to the town. For centuries, the population of Marken lived in isolation and it was not until 1957 when a dike was built that ended the flooding and allowed it to become a peninsula by connecting it to the mainland.
When you enter Marken you will realize that this place exudes charm everywhere, no wonder the film director Tim Burton was inspired by it for his film "Big Fish".
Strolling through its streets and looking closely at the fishermen's cottages or the Protestant churches gives you the feeling that you are walking through a village-museum that has managed to maintain its authenticity despite the passage of time. It's like taking a trip back in time to the Dutch Golden Age!
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